intestinal capillariasis

Definition: a spruelike diarrheal disease caused by infection with Capillaria philippinensis, large populations of which are built up by internal autoinfection in the intestinal mucosa; characterized by abdominal pain, edema, diarrhea, cachexia, hypoproteinemia, hypotension, cardiac failure, and hyporeflexia; severe infection is often manifested as a fulminating disorder that may be fatal.